Remembered as team player, king of the family

Soldier laid to rest

PRIVATE Junior La Barrie was remembered by fellow soldiers Friday as a team player, and by relatives as “king of the family”.

Mourners at his funeral held at the Mt Pisgah Spiritual Baptist Church in Chaguanas were also told of his discipline and professionalism.

La Barrie, 29, was the passenger in a car driven by his fellow soldier and friend Christian John, when the Nissan Tiida was stuck by a Nissan Almera driven by a 16-year-old boy on the Solomon Hochoy Highway last Monday.

La Barrie died at hospital from internal injuries.

La Barrie’s wife Laura-Lee Ross stood at the door to the church and wept uncontrollably at his funeral.

The couple’s four-year old son Zachary wiped away her tears, as they looked at La Barrie’s body, dressed in his military uniform.

The service was officiated by Bishop Patrick Roberts.

La Barrie’s friend Lieutenant Barry George read his eulogy, saying it was hard to say goodbye to a man who worked well with all and gained good character on the job for his professionalism, intelligence and honesty.

George said between 2006 to 2013, La Barrie had performed well as a soldier and had earned the respect and good appraisals from his superiors to move to a higher rank.

Lieutenant George said: “He was a disciplined person and a team player and one thing I was sure about he always managed to get the job done. He knew how to turn a dull occasion into a happy one.”

Sister Rachel La Barrie said described him as the “king of the family” as he was the only son to parents Erica and Victor La Barrie.

La Barrie lived with Ross and Zachary at his in-laws’ home at Butler Village, Waterloo, Carapichaima. He was based at the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment’s Camp Ogden, Long Circular Road, St James for the past eight years.

The 16-year-old driver involved in the fatal crash has been charged with five traffic-related offences. He was denied bail when he appeared in court and the matter was adjourned to March 12.